TY - JOUR
T1 - Exploring University and Healthcare Workers’ Physical Activity, Diet, and Well-Being During the COVID-19 Pandemic
AU - Gilbert, Amanda
AU - Eyler, Amy
AU - Cesarone, Gabriella
AU - Harris, Jenine
AU - Hayibor, Lisa
AU - Evanoff, Bradley
N1 - Funding Information:
The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This study was supported by the Healthier Workforce Center of the Midwest grant no. U19OH008868 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), by the Washington University Institute of Clinical and Translational Sciences grant no. UL1TR002345 from the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (grant no. U48DP006395), and by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), National Institutes of Health (grant no. T32 HL130357). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the CDC, NCATS, or NIH.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 The Author(s).
PY - 2023/8
Y1 - 2023/8
N2 - Background: The COVID-19 pandemic affected well-being and health behaviors, especially among healthcare workers and employees in other fields. This is of public health concern because health behaviors and well-being influence long-term negative health outcomes. The purpose of this study was to explore health behaviors and well-being among university and medical center staff during COVID-19. Methods: EMPOWER (Employee Well-being during Epidemic Response) was a three-wave observational study (wave 1: 1,994; wave 2: 1,426; wave 3: 1,363) measuring health behaviors and well-being of university and medical center staff. Surveys were disseminated online to all employees between April and September 2020. Descriptive statistics explored trends across waves for health behaviors (physical activity [PA], diet), and well-being (mental well-being [MWB], depression, anxiety, and stress). Logistic regressions explored associations between health behaviors and well-being factors adjusting for demographics and clinical role. Interactions explored moderation by clinical role. Results: Most participants reported same/healthier changes in PA (54–65%) and diet (57–73%) and decreased MWB across waves (62%–69%). Nonclinical workers were less likely than clinical workers to experience worse MWB and moderate/severe anxiety and stress (odds ratios [ORs] ranged from 0.38 to 0.58 across waves and well-being outcomes). Participants who maintained/increased PA and diet were less likely to experience worse well-being (ORs ranged from 0.44 to 0.69 across waves and well-being outcomes). Interactions by clinical role were not significant. Conclusion/Application to Practice: Maintaining/increasing health behaviors during COVID-19 may be protective of mental health/well-being in some healthcare workers. These findings support health promotion efforts focused on maintaining or improving diet and PA.
AB - Background: The COVID-19 pandemic affected well-being and health behaviors, especially among healthcare workers and employees in other fields. This is of public health concern because health behaviors and well-being influence long-term negative health outcomes. The purpose of this study was to explore health behaviors and well-being among university and medical center staff during COVID-19. Methods: EMPOWER (Employee Well-being during Epidemic Response) was a three-wave observational study (wave 1: 1,994; wave 2: 1,426; wave 3: 1,363) measuring health behaviors and well-being of university and medical center staff. Surveys were disseminated online to all employees between April and September 2020. Descriptive statistics explored trends across waves for health behaviors (physical activity [PA], diet), and well-being (mental well-being [MWB], depression, anxiety, and stress). Logistic regressions explored associations between health behaviors and well-being factors adjusting for demographics and clinical role. Interactions explored moderation by clinical role. Results: Most participants reported same/healthier changes in PA (54–65%) and diet (57–73%) and decreased MWB across waves (62%–69%). Nonclinical workers were less likely than clinical workers to experience worse MWB and moderate/severe anxiety and stress (odds ratios [ORs] ranged from 0.38 to 0.58 across waves and well-being outcomes). Participants who maintained/increased PA and diet were less likely to experience worse well-being (ORs ranged from 0.44 to 0.69 across waves and well-being outcomes). Interactions by clinical role were not significant. Conclusion/Application to Practice: Maintaining/increasing health behaviors during COVID-19 may be protective of mental health/well-being in some healthcare workers. These findings support health promotion efforts focused on maintaining or improving diet and PA.
KW - clinical
KW - fitness
KW - nutrition
KW - population health
KW - workplace
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85147503999&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/21650799221147814
DO - 10.1177/21650799221147814
M3 - Article
C2 - 36708021
AN - SCOPUS:85147503999
SN - 2165-0799
VL - 71
SP - 384
EP - 394
JO - Workplace Health and Safety
JF - Workplace Health and Safety
IS - 8
ER -